Our Australian Darts Masters betting tips and preview cover the 2026 event at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on August 21 and 22.
The final selection will be added once the official draw is confirmed and available bookmaker prices have been assessed. For now, Gerwyn Price leads our early data-led view of the field.
Eight established PDC players will face eight Oceanic representatives in the 16-player World Series event. Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen are all missing, leaving the tournament more open than usual.
2026 Australian Darts Masters Field
| PDC Representatives | Oceanic Representatives |
|---|---|
| Gian van Veen | Adam Leek |
| Jonny Clayton | Simon Whitlock |
| James Wade | Raymond Smith |
| Josh Rock | Brody Klinge |
| Gerwyn Price | Tim Pusey |
| Stephen Bunting | Joe Comito |
| Ross Smith | Mal Cuming |
| Damon Heta | Ben Robb |
Mal Cuming was added to the field after Darren Penhall withdrew with a shoulder injury. Cuming received the place as the next eligible player from the Australian Darts Association rankings.
The first-round draw has not yet been published.
Why Isn’t Luke Littler Playing?
Luke Littler has chosen to skip the Australian and New Zealand World Series events as part of a planned break from darts and long-distance travel.
Littler had already indicated in 2025 that he intended to rotate his appearances in Australia. He later confirmed plans to take time away during August rather than return to Wollongong and Auckland.
Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen have also opted not to make the trip. Neither player appears in the PDC’s confirmed field, although no detailed official reason has been published for either absence.
Their absence removes three of the strongest and most recognisable players from the tournament. It also gives the remaining PDC representatives a much more realistic chance of collecting the title.
Gerwyn Price Sets the Early Standard
Gerwyn Price has the strongest statistical profile in the field.
Across the 12 months to August 1, Price recorded a 98.73 three-dart average, a 107.39 first-nine average, and won 57.06% of his recorded legs. He also converted 42.53% of his checkout attempts.
He arrives in Australia after reaching the World Matchplay final in Blackpool. Price defeated Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, Ross Smith, and Gian van Veen before losing 18-9 to an exceptional Littler performance in the final.
Losing that final does not weaken the Australian case much. Littler averaged 111.53 and produced one of the strongest televised displays ever seen. Price still averaged 104.97 in defeat.
The important point is that Price enters this event in form, with no Littler, Humphries, or Van Gerwen blocking his path.
The Main PDC Contenders
Price is not miles clear of the chasing group.
| Player | 12-month average | First-nine average | Checkout rate | Legs won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerwyn Price | 98.73 | 107.39 | 42.53% | 57.06% |
| Gian van Veen | 96.38 | 104.28 | 42.67% | 54.56% |
| Ross Smith | 96.04 | 105.12 | 41.14% | 56.33% |
| Jonny Clayton | 96.03 | 104.87 | 42.21% | 55.70% |
| Josh Rock | 95.48 | 104.95 | 37.43% | 52.25% |
| James Wade | 94.44 | 101.62 | 42.67% | 54.01% |
| Damon Heta | 94.23 | 101.63 | 42.54% | 53.82% |
Statistics cover the previous 12 months as displayed by Darts Orakel on August 1, 2026.
Jonny Clayton and Ross Smith
Jonny Clayton and Ross Smith have similar overall scoring figures, with Smith holding a narrow advantage in legs won.
Clayton’s finishing remains one of his main strengths. His 42.21% checkout rate is close to Price’s figure, while Smith’s 105.12 first-nine average shows that he can score heavily from the start of a leg.
Both look capable of winning the tournament if the draw keeps them away from Price during the early stages.
Gian van Veen
Gian van Veen combines a 96.38 average with the best functional doubles percentage among the leading players in our data.
He also reached the World Matchplay semi-finals in July, beating James Wade before losing 16-13 to Price. That recent run strengthens his position among the main challengers.
James Wade and Stephen Bunting
James Wade does not match Price or Van Veen for scoring, but his checkout figures remain strong. Short knockout events often reward players who punish missed doubles, and Wade continues to do that well.
Stephen Bunting is another established televised winner who cannot be dismissed. His final chance will depend heavily on where he lands in the bracket.
Josh Rock
Josh Rock’s scoring numbers place him close to Clayton, Smith, and Van Veen, but his finishing has been less reliable.
His 37.43% checkout rate is the lowest among the leading PDC group. That is a potential problem in short matches, where a few missed doubles can decide the result.
Damon Heta
Damon Heta will have home support, but his recent numbers sit below those of Price, Clayton, Smith, and Van Veen.
Heta still has the experience to make a deep run. The concern is whether he can produce his best level across several matches rather than relying on the advantage of playing in Australia.
Which Oceanic Players Could Cause an Upset?
The Oceanic group is led by Raymond Smith and Brody Klinge based on their domestic results and cross-tour ratings.
Both have won a high percentage of their recorded regional legs, although those results came mainly against Australian opposition. They cannot be compared directly with statistics produced across the full PDC circuit.
Simon Whitlock remains the most experienced Oceanic representative. His recent scoring has dropped below his peak level, but he has far more experience of televised conditions than most of the regional qualifiers.
Adam Leek also has PDC Tour Card experience, while Ben Robb has built a strong record in New Zealand competition.
An Oceanic player winning the tournament would still be a major upset. Winning one first-round match is far more realistic, particularly if one of the PDC players starts slowly in the short format.
Why the Draw Matters
The draw could make a large difference to the outright assessment.
Every leading player wants to avoid the strongest Oceanic opponents in round one. More importantly, Price, Clayton, Van Veen, Smith, and Rock will want to avoid being placed in the same section of the knockout bracket.
A player with a comfortable opening match and a clear route to the semi-finals should have a much higher tournament-winning chance than someone drawn into a section containing two or three leading PDC names.
That is why we are not publishing tournament probabilities or an official bet yet.
Betfinder Early View
Gerwyn Price is the early player to beat.
He leads the field on average, first-nine scoring, and recent televised form. His run to the World Matchplay final also shows that his game is in strong shape heading into August.
Price is not automatically a bet. A short price could remove any value, while an awkward draw could reduce his chance of winning.
Betfinder will update this preview once the official draw and format are confirmed. We will then freeze our tournament probabilities before checking available bookmaker prices.
Only a player who passes that full price and probability test will become the official Australian Darts Masters selection.
- For more upcoming darts tournaments and major betting dates, see our sports betting calendar.
